Traffic time signal device



y 1958 'r. WAGNER TRAFFIC TIME SIGNAL DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed. Feb. 15, 1956 INVENTOR.

TOBIAS WAGNER y 1958 T. WAGNER 2,842,627

TRAFFIC TIME SIGNAL DEVICE Filed Feb. 15, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Z3 Z5 w i w I5 INVENTOR. 1/ TOBIAS WAGNER M7271 NE 9 TRAFIFHC TIME SEGNAL DEVICE Tobias Wagner, Jew York, N. Application February 15, 1956, Serial No. 565,752

1 Claim. (Cl. 2.00-=-38) This invention relates generally to traffic signals and, more particularly, to a signal light that automatically indicates the length of time the green or red light still has to operate before changing, such as disclosed in my copending application Serial No. 499,777, filed April 7, 1955.

Considerable difficulty is experienced by motorists in bringing their automobiles to a stop when a green light suddenly changes to red. Although in many jurisdictions an amber caution light is included, this does not represent a full solution to the problem, since the amber light remains on, usually, only for a very few seconds. Thus, the motorists may be approaching an intersection, maintaining a. normal rate of speed sufiicient to permit him to pass the intersection while he still has a green light, and may he suddenly confronted with an imminent light change when he is almost at the intersection. Under these circumstances, it is necessary that he either bring his vehicle to a sharp stop or alternately, continue on through the intersection despite the fact that the signal may have completely changed before he is fully through the intersection.

It will be seen from the above that it is highly desirable that the motorist be provided with a visual indication, from the time the signal changes until the next change thereof that will provide him with full knowledge as to the amount of time remaining before the next change. In this way, he can prepare himself further in advance, either for bringing his vehicle to a halt at an intersection, or alternately, for preparing the vehicle to leave the intersection after it has been stopped thereat by a red light.

The difiiculty experienced by motorists is experienced also by pedestrians who oftentimes, in endeavoring to cross an intersection at which controls exist in the form of traific lights, find themselves stranded in the middle of the intersection, thereby incurring considerable risk of injury as traflic begins to flow in a different direction.

While it has heretofore been proposed to provide a visual indication on a trafiic light signal whereby one can determine, generally, the extent of time remaining before the next light change, the main object of the present invention is to provide an improved type of device, which will be particularly adapted to provide a visual indication that can be seen at a substantial distance, so that an oncoming motorist can readily perceive the extent of time remaining before he reaches the intersection.

Another object of the invention is to provide the device separate from the trafi'ic light and in the form of a plurality of progressively extinguishing lights.

A specific object of the invention is to provide an elongated vertically disposed compartment separate from and above the tralhc light compartment, which elongated compartment is divided into a plurality of smaller enclosures each containing a red and a green light, all the lights or" a similar color being illuminated simultaneously, but certain of said lights extinguishing progressively as the duration of time before the next light changes grows tates atent light passing therethrough.

shorter and shorter, the remaining lights in the upper compartment disappearing simultaneously with the making of the light change.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claim in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

in the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a trafiic light signal formed according to the present invention, the supporting standard of the signal being shown only fragmentarily.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional View taken on the plane of the line 22 of Fig. 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view on a larger scale taken on the plane of the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken on the plane of the line d-d of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken substantially on the plane of the line 55 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view taken on the plane of the line 66 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a similar view to Fig. 1 but showing another application of the invention.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the reference numeral It) generally designates a traflic light signal formed according to the present invention. The signal includes the usual supporting post or standard ll, it being understood that alternately, the signal can be suspended from an overhead support.

A sectional housing or casing, indicated generally at 12, is supported on the top of the post ll. The housing is rectangular in configuration and square in cross sec tion and is divided into a lower compartment or section 13 and an upper compartment or section lid. The lower compartment has a base or bottom Wall 15 suitably tened to the top of the post ll and has side walls 16, each of which side Walls is formed with a circular window provided with a translucent white pane 17 of glass or plastic material of a type adapted to partially di The upper compartment has a bottom wall 71%, separating the two compartmei side Walls 19 and a top wall 2%, said walls being sui fastened to each other. The side walls l? are each formed with an elongated window provided with a translucent pane 21 of material similar to the material of pane 17.

In the lower compartment 13, behind each pane of glass 17, a pair of sockets 23 and 2.4 are secured to the bottom wall 15 for electrically supporting and connectio a pair of vertically disposed light bulbs and 25 of i gated cylindrical formation, bulb 25 being 0010 l and bulb 25 being colored green. Each pair of bulb" and 26 is enclosed by an inner opaque wall 27, e 'rliS 28, outer pane of glass 17 and the compartment sen ing wall 18 so that the rays of light will not slr' the interior of the compartment 13 but only cut through the pane of glass 17.

The upper compartment 14 is further divided, by vertically disposed partition walls 3t) and intersecting horizontally disposed partition walls 31, into a plurality of centrally disposed enclosures 32, 33, 34, 35, 36 and 37 and a plurality of enclosures 33, 39, 40, 41, 42 and 43 at each side of said central enclosures. Any desired number of central and side enclosures may be provided, but in Fig. 1 six of each of such enclosures are shown.

In each central enclosure 32, 33, 54, 35, 36 and 37, a pair of sockets 44 and 45 is mounted on the horizontal partition wall Slthereof for supporting a pair of vertically disposed light bulbs 47 and 48, the bulb 47 being colored red and the bulb 48 being colored green. These 7 bulbs cast their rays through opposed glass panes 21.

In each side enclosure38, 39, '40, 41, 42-and.43, a pair of sockets 49 and 58 is mounted on one of the side walls 19 of the upper compartment 14 for supportinga pair of horizontally disposed light bulbs 51 and 52, the upper bulb 51 being colored red and the lower bulb 52 being colored green, said bulbs casting their rays through the adjacent outer pane of glass 21.

The mechanism 'for illuminating and extinguishing the light bulbs in timed relation is mounted in the lower compartment 13 of the housing. cludes a bank of five switches 53, 54, 55, 56 and 57 mounted on a partition wall SS-and having elongated hingedly mounted spring fingers 6t), 61; 62, 63 and 64, constituting the movable contacts of the switches. The movable contacts normally drop by gravity away from the stationary contacts (not shown) of the switches; These switches control the progressive and successive extinguishment of the light bulbs in the central and side enclosures of the upper compartment 14 and are in circuit with the various pairs of light bulbs in the central and side enclosures of the upper compartment 14 for controlling the extinguishment thereof progressively and successively as follows: movable contact 60 is i'n'circuit with light bulbs 47 and 48 in enclosure 32 and light bulbs 51 and 52 in enclosure 38; contact 61 with light bulbs 47 and 48 in enclosure 33 and light bulbs 51 and 52 in enclosure 39; contact 62 with light bulbs 47 and 48 in enclosure 34 and light bulbs 51 and 52 in enclosure 40;

contact 63 with light bulbs 47 and 48 in enclosure 35 and light bulbs 51 and 52 in enclosure 41; contact 64 with light bulbs 47 and 48 in enclosure 36 and light bulbs 51 and 52 in enclosure 42,

A bank of six switches 70, disposed in pairs, spaced from each other, is mounted on a vertically disposed plate 71 which is secured at its bottom end to a block 72 fastened to the bottom wall of the housing 12 for controlling the simultaneous illumination of the light bulbs in the lower and upper compartments 13 and 14, respectively, of the housing 12. Each switch 70 is a two position switch and includes a pair of closely spaced elongated stationary contacts 73 and 74 andan elongated movable contact 75 between the stationary contacts and movable into and out of contact with the stationary contacts. A spring finger 76 is connected to the movable contact 75 by a coil spring 77 and is bent so that normally the movable contact is in contact with the stationary contact 73. Stationary contacts 73 are in circuit with the green light bulbs in the lower and upper compartments, and the stationary contacts 74 are in circuit with the red light bulbs therein.

On the plate 71 behind each pair of switches 70, there is an electromagnet 78 having an armature 79 springpressed outwardly. An insulating strip 80 is secured at one end to the free end of the armature 79 and at its other end to the outer end of the actuating fingers 76 of said pair of switches 70 so that when the electromagnet are supported on a bracket 84 mounted on a standard- 85 secured to the base 15 of the housing. A gear 86 is. fixed on the shaft 87 of motor 82, intermediate its ends, and formed on the outer end of, the shaft 87 is a This mechanism in-' small metal disc 38. A large light control disc 90 formed 1 of insulating material, such as a suitable plastic, isfas:

tened to the disc 88 and is rotatable with the shaft 87.

A large gear 91 fastened to a rotatable shaft 92' disposed parallel to the motor shaft 87 and extending from the bracket 84. The gear 91 is formed with a hub portion 93 and secured to said hub portion for one-half its circumference there is an insulating cover strip 94. The gears 86 and 91 are continuously in mesh and the ratio of the gear teeth is such that the gears serve as reduction gearing for reducing the speed of the shaft 92 and gear 91. A switch 95 is mounted on the standard 85 below the gear 91 for controlling the energi zation of the electromagnets 78. This switch includes a stationary contact 96 and a movable contact 97 having an upstanding roller 98 on its outer free end. The movable contact is spring pressed out of engagement with the stationary contact and in its normal spring-pressed position the roller 98 is disposed in the path of movement of the insulating strip 94 on the hub portion 93 of the gear 91 so that during one-half revolution ofthe'gear 91'the movable contact is held out of contact with the stationary contact and the circuit through the electromagnets 78 are closed for illuminating the red light bulbs.

Referring particularly to Figs. 3 and 4, the light conso that it extends through this clearance provided by the cutaway portion 100 as shown in Fig. 4. 'It will also be noted that the disc 90 is formed with a series of circumferentially spaced slots 103, 104, and 106. The slots are of arcuate formation and are concentric with the disc, the slots being spaced radially of the disc as shown in Fig. 4, the cut away portion 109 and slots decreasing in length in a direction radially, inwardly of the periphery of the disc. In Fig. 4, it will be seen that the movable switch contact 61 of switch 54 is disposed in the path of movement of slot 103, movable switch contact 62 of switch 55 in the path of movement of slot 104, movable switch contact 63 of switch 56 in the path of movement of slot 105, and movablefswitch contact 64 of switch 57 in the path of movement of slot 106 of the disc 90. By reason of this arrangement of disc and movable switch contacts, the circuits through the switches are successively and progressively closed thus progressively extinguishing the light bulbs 47 and 48 in the central enclosures 32, 33, 34, 35 and 36 andthe light bulbs 51 and 52 in each of the sideenclosures 38,

39, 40, 41 and 42 in the upper compartment 14. a

The movements of the disc 90 and gear 91 are. synchronized so that the leading edge of the insulating strip 94 on hub portion 93 of gear 91 clears the roller 98 of movable switch contact 97 of swich 95 sirnultaneously with the engagement of the shoulder 191 of the disc 90 with the movable switchcontact 60 of the outermost switch 53 when the disc 90 and gear 91 rotate in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 4.

In operation, assuming that the apparatus is connected to a source of electromotive force and the motor 82 is continuously operating andtassumingw that the insulating strip 94 on the hub portion 93 of gear 91 is just leaving the roller 98 of movable contact 97 of switch 95 and that the solid portion of the periphery of the disc 90 has reached the movable switch contact 60 of the outermost switch 53, the automatic action is as follows:

The electromagnets 78 are energized drawing their 'armatui'es 79 inwardly thereby moving the spring fingers 76 which snap the movable contacts 75 into contact with the stationary contacts 74 of the switches 73 closing the circuit through the red light bulbs 25 in the lower compartment 13 and the red light bulbs 47 and 51 in the upper compartment 14 and thus simultaneously illuminating all of said red light bulbs.

The red light bulbs remain illuminated until continued rotation of the disc 90, in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 4, moves the shoulder 102 of said disc around to the movable switch contact 60 of switch 53 whereupon said contact 60 drops over the shoulder 102 into the cut away portion 100 and out of contact with the stationary contact of the switch 53 thus breaking the circuit through the red light bulb 47 in the top central enclosure 32 and through the red light bulb 51 in each top side enclosure 38. Continued rotation of the disc 90 in the same direction moves the slots 103, 104, 105 and 106 over the movable switch contacts 61, 62, 63 and 64 of switches 54, 55, 56 and 57, respectively, permitting said movable contacts to drop through the slots and out of contact with their respective stationary contacts thereby successively breaking the circuits through the red light bulbs 47 in the central enclosures 33, 34, 35 and 36 and through the bulbs 51 in the side enclosures 39, 40, 41 and 42, thus successively extinguishing said bulbs.

The red light bulbs 25 in the lower compartment 13 and the red light bulbs 47 and 51 in the lowermost central and side enclosures 37 and 43, respectively, of the upper compartment 14, remain illuminated until the leading end edge of the insulating strip 94 on the hub portion 93 of the gear 91 contacts the roller 98 of the movable contact 97 of switch 95 thereby breaking the circuit through the electromagnets 78 and deenergizing the same whereupon the armatures 79 of said electromagnets and spring fingers 76 snap the movable contacts 75 of switches 70 out of contact with stationary contacts 74 and into contact with the stationary contacs '73 of said switches for closing the circuit through the green light bulbs 26 in the lower compartment 13 and the green light bulbs 48 and 52 in the upper compartment of the housing thereby simultaneously illuminating said green lights.

The green lights 48 in the central enclosures 32, 33, 34, 35 and 36 and the green lights 52 in the side enclosures 38, 39, 40, 41 and 42 remain illuminated until the cut away portion 100 and the slots 103, 104, 105 and 106 are moved over the movable contacts 60, 61, 62, 63, 64 of the switches 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, respectively, permitting said movable contacts to drop successively through the cut away portion and slots and out of contact with their respective stationary contacts thereby successively breaking the circuits through the green lights in said enclosures in the upper compartment and successively extinguishing the lights. The green lights 26 in the lower compartment 13 and the green light 48 in the lowermost central enclosure 37 and the green lights 52 in the lowermost side enclosures 43 of the upper compartment 14 remain illuminated until the trailing end of the insulating strip 94 moves clear of the roller 98 of switch 95 and the electromagnets 78 are energized.

It will be seen that by reason of this arrangement, whenever a green or red signal flashes on, the vertical series of light bulbs in the upper compartment 14 will be simultaneously illuminated therewith, and then, as

the time expires during which the signal lamp is to re main illuminated, there will be a timed deenergizing of successively following light bulbs in the upper compartment above the signal. A clear visual indication is thus provided so that as the motorist approaches the signal, he can visually observe how much time remains before the signal is to change so that he can make a proper decision as to whether to slow up the vehicle preparatory to bringing it to a halt, or alternatively, prepare the vehicle for continuing on through the intersection. Further, as to motorists who are already stopped at the intersection the visual indication can be clearly observed, for the purpose of preparing ones vehicle for movement as the light changes from red to green.

In Fig. 7, the signal device is shown in its preferred form of use. In this form the device is substituted in place of the present signal light, without the master lamps 25 and 26. In other respects this form of the invention is similar to the previous form and the similar parts may be recognized by corresponding reference numerals.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise construction herein disclosed and that various changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claim.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

Electrical switching mechanism for controlling a traflic light signal comprising a shaft, means for rotating said shaft, an insulating disc secured to said shaft with its plane normal thereto so as to be rotated therewith and provided with a series of spaced arcuate-shaped slots concentrically arranged therein, said disc having a cut away portion in the periphery thereof, the slots in the disc being progressively lengthened radially of the disc, said cut away portion being longer than the longest slot, a plurality of movable electrical contact members located in a plane parallel to the plane of said disc and spaced apart so as to register with said series of slots and said peripheral cut away portion, said movable switch members being normally in open circuit position, said disc upon rotation moving said movable electrical contact switch members to closed circuit position, said movable contact members during said rotation of the disc falling by gravity through said slots and through said peripheral cut away portion to normal circuit opening position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,866,899 Minier July 12, 1932 2,055,031 Hutchings Sept. 22, 1936 2,480,290 Fein Aug. 30, 1949 2,536,155 Brand Jan. 2, 1951 2,639,340 Gaite May 19, 1953 2,683,868 McKnight July 13, 1954 2,798,124 Sharbaugh July 2, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 20219/ 29 Australia Feb. 27, 1930 50,948 Denmark Nov. 25, 1935 

